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Eric Schneider  

creative coach, consultant + catalyst for change

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who Eric works with

With a background as both a creative (he's an architect and a photographer) and a management consultant (he has over 30 years of experience advising organisations and individuals**) one of Eric's key strengths is genuinely understanding the challenges - creative and otherwise - facing individuals and organisations and what it takes to succeed and thrive.

(** see more)

In his coaching he is also very aware of the power of the mind and how ways of thinking can affect a person's behaviour and effectiveness. Not least this includes how our internal 'saboteurs' can hold sway. In this regard, he works with clients to help ensure the brain really is working as a friend and not a foe.

WHO WE WORK WITH


Eric specialises in working with creatives, with those looking to nurture and enhance creativity in their teams, and with CEOs, business owners and entrepreneurs, who need to be creative to succeed and stay ahead of the pack. Sometimes these categories overlap.

Eric specialises in helping creatives* to achieve their full potential, and in assisting others to think more creatively.

* The term 'creatives' is used here to refer to those working in the 'creative sectors'.  Our belief is that everyone can be creative, though few people are - or need to be - creative in all areas of their life, work and thinking.

Eric loves working with creatives of all kinds - from those working in design and architecture to those in the arts, media and fashion sectors. He works with creative individuals, teams and organisations.


If you're a creative, the focus is likely to be on helping you to achieve your full creative potential and your career aspirations.


Depending on your needs and priorities, Eric may help you clarify your vision and goals, agree your career / business strategies, set out your next key steps, review your creative activities, build your confidence, help with how you address creative challenges, and/or identify how you can more effectively manage your working relations with others. The issues covered may range from business or career activities, to those affecting your creative outputs, to motivational and psychological factors. They will always be put in a holistic context.


Eric is also passionate about nurturing creative thinking in individuals and organisations who don't always see themselves as creative.


Sometimes becoming 'more creative' is about getting people to think about alternative and more effective ways of solving problems or asking questions. In other instances it can be about developing 'creative' awareness or skills in a particular area.


It can also be about assisting people to nurture, manage and encourage creativity and innovative thinking in others, for example by putting in place receptive conditions and other factors. Depending on the circumstances, for example,  the focus may be on how best to build a creative culture, nurture innovation, develop creative teams, remove creative hurdles, understand creative processes and / or leverage creative assets.


Whatever the context, Eric will work with you to nurture and develop your (and your team's ) creativity and creative thinking

Eric also enjoys works with CEOs, entrepreneurs and business owners who need to stay positive and energised in the face of endless challenges.


In such a context often Eric's role is to be there - as a creative thinker, coach, consultant and general trusted advisor - to bounce ideas off, to work through pressing issues, to interrogate both strategic and creative matters, or to just listen.


Building on his experience as both a creative strategy and design management consultant, and of working with hundreds of small businesses and many larger organisations Eric can help with matters ranging from the development of goals and strategies, to team and relationship building, and from developing decision-making frameworks to reviewing ways of coping with those inevitable setbacks.


Combining the role as a coach, consultant, and listener, Eric provides personalised executive coaching, consultancy and advice. He brings an independent, empathetic perspective, and acts as a sounding board - a safe 'psychological space' - to explore issues, ideas and experiences. He amalgamates this with Positive Intelligence* techniques that make a major difference in helping the initial positive results of the coaching and consultancy endure.

Creatives

Creativity enhancers

HOW WE WORK


CEOs, entrepreneurs + business owners

“I used to have sympathy with the view that management consultants simply borrow your watch to tell you the time, only to walk off with it.


My experience with Schneider has been very different. Eric borrowed my watch, told me why it was running slightly out, then gave it back - pointing out that with a bit of cleaning it would be worth more than I had thought possible.


Eric Schneider gave my consultancy the kind of invaluable independent perspective that I hope we give to our clients”



Robert Smith, Jog Limited

Eric is the only businessman I have met who is also both a genuinely skilled and observant “creative” and an effective and gritty strategic consultant, able intelligently and articulately to evaluate the needs and objectives of others on their own terms, rather than simply by reference to himself…


… throughout, I have also valued Eric’s ideas and contributions on diverse small issues such as logo-design, the content, tone & ‘pitch’ of web sites and brochures, aspects of overhead management and even preparation for important meetings and presentations.


What I like about Eric is that he is prepared to get to the nuts & bolts; he can bring real rigour to the table. He can also be relied on to take a step back from time to time and try to lift one’s head up to the horizon that lies ahead.”


Chris Agace Chalk Hill


“having taken a slightly sceptical approach to the process, I found the whole exercise very rewarding. Eric has the knack of getting to the nub of an issue quickly and without fuss giving us a clear set of issues to address


Ian Yallop, Stephen George + partners

“I just thought you might like to know that Strides has got a new word doing the rounds: "Being Schneidered." It made me laugh. I want to become a word someday … Your presence has "unstuck" us and pushed us forward, for which I am extremely grateful.  Thank you and well done. I hope you enjoyed the process, others certainly did.”

Elizabeth Kavanagh

Head of HR, Stride Treglown

Eric Schneider is an outstanding management and business consultant. Even his free up-front session gave me invaluable ideas for growing my business. In the paid consultancy which followed I have gained a clear idea of where I am heading and what I need to do the get there. I have already taken significant actions that are moving my business forward. Eric's consulting is worth its weight in gold”


Graham Price, CEO Abicord

“Eric distinguished our strengths and encouraged us to build upon them. We gained valuable insight into the perception of our company from our valued clients. (He) also taught to recognise bad habits, no matter how simplistic they may have appeared, and install good ones in their place."


Jon Eaglesham, Barr Gazetas

The process has opened up many new fields of discussion within the office. Everybody on the staff enjoyed meeting Eric. Often now when we have a problem someone will say: 'what would Eric say?'!”


Alistair Barr, Barr Gazetas

"…Throughout this six month process Eric delivered insight, knowledge, financial acumen and most importantly intellectual challenge to the business planning process. The initial benefits are a practice reinvigorated, recharged and most importantly ambitious to face a new decade of challenge…”


Mark Hobson, Maber Architects

“Eric Schneider came highly recommended for the task; he exceeded expectations. Through his astute and tactful guidance we have and are achieving development ambitions which I would have not thought possible”

Lyn Edwards, GMW Architects

“… Eric's comprehensive grasp of business economics and real in-depth knowledge of our industry has meant that his findings and recommendations have been seen as authoritative across the firm. As a result even within a few months we have seen a massive improvements in morale, focus and productivity. We also now have a clear route map for expansion and an increase in profits that is ‘owned’ by all the team"


Nigel Spawton, Gray Baynes + Shew

I had reached a plateau in my career progression and Eric has been very helpful in creating a framework for me to organise my thoughts and ambitions on how I could progress in the future.


Eric's warm and encouraging manner dispensing positive criticism has helped boost my confidence. The 360 degree review was very illuminating and helped me to develop ideas for what I should focus on going forward.


We covered a lot of ground during our sessions, which carried on successfully

via video during lockdown. (Even when the) sessions were completed, Eric still took the time to check in on me and ensure that the office was aware of my progress.


Karen Fuller, Barr Gazetas

SOME TESTIMONIALS …

Eric works in a structured but flexible and responsive manner tailored to the specific needs and situation of his individual clients.

















In particular he aims to understand your situation, putting himself in your shoes, to work with you to innovate effective solutions, and navigate how they will most effectively instigated.


He is happy to work on a face to face, online +/or telephone basis.